Bicycling & the Wheelmen of Kewaunee County

Last spring Wisconsin Magazine of History carried an article on cycling. Well before 1900, bicycling had swept Europe and was catching on in  the U.S.  As the 1907 Kewaunee postmarked postcard photo attests, fashionable wheelman were sweeping Kewaunee County too.

History tells us the first bicycles arrived in Wisconsin in 1869. While the things looked a little unusual, they had larger front wheel than back, a seat and handlebars and did bear a resemblance to what we know today. Racing was obviously big in Europe as a November 1878 Record reported that the English were “running mad” with regard to bicycling. The driving wheel was 8’ tall and the rider rode at the height of lamp posts, No doubt there was more than a little laughter when the rider needed to grasp those lampposts to dismount. According to the article, courage was only outdone by dexterity when the bike got up to speed.

Describing itself as a bicycling and tricycling literature publication, The Wheelman magazine began offering premiums in an effort to increase it's subscriber base. Those bringing in 50 subscribers would receive a Nicholas Toy Co. 42” bicycle, but the jackpot was a Columbia Tricycle* for anyone bringing in 180 subscribers.  Most interesting  of the various classes of bicycles offered was the St. Nicholas bicycle. Columbia had a big name and when the company’s 1888 business calendar was out, the Sturgeon Bay Independent gushed about the novel, convenient publication. The paper pointed to “new and fresh quotations pertaining to cycling from leading publications.” Nearly every page had quotations illustrating the popularity all over the world and prominent writers stood out.

At the same time the National Cycling Association was selecting exceptional riders from the ranks of the League of American Wheelmen to act as officials for a cash prize meet. Offering sizable prizes was an inducement to amateur wheelmen. Wisconsin was a hub of bicycling activity and the state league even hosted an event at Ripon. Just how many Kewaunee County bicycle enthusiasts took part does not appear to have been recorded.

Ahnapee’s popular  Molle Bicycle Shop stood on Steele Street, on the spot remembered as Timble’s Barbershop and now occupied by Community Improvement Association, also called “Main Street.” John Molle was a racer, and sporting events included bicycle racing. During the summer of 1885, a three-day meet was held in Marinette with riders the paper called “fleet” and “well-known.” Molle was good, however the country really took notice in November 1890 when Samuel Hollingsworth of Greenfield, Indiana broke all records, riding his bicycle an astounding 281 ½ miles in 24 hours.

Bicycles even had an application in the Army, or so it was proposed by Capt. Moes of the 21^st Infantry. In an 1897 article appearing in the Evening Star,** Moes felt bicycles could replace horses as bicycles would be faster than horses on good roads. He felt they could be more easily hidden than horses. Moes' idea was shot down because bad roads would render bicycles inefficient though Moes felt the solution was using both. That was 20 years before the U.S. entered what came to be called World War l. When the U.S. entered World War ll in December 1941, the army had more horses than tanks. Bicycles never made it as big as Moes had thought.

Though Moes’ idea about bicycles in the military didn’t fly, mail carrier Harry Herman knew they worked for mail. In May 1898 Herman used his wheel to carry mail from Algoma to Sandy Bay, a 40 mile round trip. Herman felt bicycles would make the trip easier and faster and he proved it. Leaving Sandy Bay at 1, he arrived back in Algoma at 3. It didn't equal Herman's feat, but it was newsworthy three months later when Frank Elliott rode his bicycle ten miles to Kewaunee one day and returned the next. In 1906 Door County Superintendent of Schools W. L.Damkoehler also made news when he visited the schools throughout the county on his bicycle, feeling it was much more economical than feeding and caring for a horse.

Kewaunee County's fair offered bicycle racing competition in 1895. Open to county men only, Molle took 2^nd in the one mile race while his nemesis Joseph Gottstein came in 4^th. Then Molle won first in a race open to all. If Gottstein raced that time, he didn’t place. In the three mile race, Molle again won while Gottstein came in 7th, which was last place.

The rivalry that developed between Molle and Gottstein came to a head in October 1895 when Molle put up $25 to race Gottstein in Sturgeon Bay. Gottstein countered that he liked Kewaunee and that Kewaunee, Manitowoc or Green Bay were his choices for a race. Others put up additional money and Molle’s friends felt he could beat Gottstein any time and since it didn’t matter where, Molle should meet him halfway.

April 1899 brought out Algoma’s bicyclers who had to keep on Steele St. because other streets were too muddy. The editor noted all the new wheels and said the bicycle craze hadn’t left Algoma. Cycling was not only a gentleman’s activity. As early as 1878 it was said women were approaching the sport timidly but it was gaining favor for exercise. At the time, men wore riding habits but women did not. Then came the French cycling gown, a simple gray tweed jacket and skirt with a white flannel bodice. Gaiters matched the dress while the cap matched the blouse. Part of cycling was a fashion show. An 1893 Sturgeon Bay Democrat reported on a Massachusettes' woman who rode around New England with the zeal of a missionary while lecturing to advance the cause of cycling.

Then came the laws. Bicyclists were expected to obey the laws of the road. Collisions were commonplace and cities regulated speed. Wheelmen were advised to be respectful of others as failing to adhere to the rules gave all bicyclists a bad name.  Bicyclists were to watch for horses which, not being accustomed to such sights, could easily cause injury. They were advised to watch for pedestrians, also to avoid injury. When Otto Haack of Rio Creek broke his arm following a fall from his bicycle, it was news. Perhaps it happened because his cousin Leo was riding the handlebars. Otto and Leo were brought to Dr. McMillian’s office in what is now the Rouseabout on the northwest corner of 4^th and Clark in Algoma. Otto’s arm was set. Leo’s broken toe must have been quite serious because the paper mentioned that amputation was not necessary.

Algoma residents have been bicyclists for the past 140 years. Baseball has been around a little longer. The interest in both does not appear to be waning.

"Late for a Date"

The metal sculpture adjacent to the parking lot at Manitowoc's Rahr Art Museum was taken by the blogger.

Ahnapee was renamed Algoma in 1897. It began as Wolf River and renamed Ahnepee in 1859. The place was spelled incorrectly - by the state and federal governments as well - so often that in 1873, townspeople decided if they couldn't beat 'em, they'd join 'em and Ahnepee became Ahnapee.

*An online check indicates Columbia Tricycles were first advertised in 1883. Nicholas Toy Co. seems to have begun advertising its bicycles a year later. Online photos of the St. Nicholas bikes show a huge front wheel and a very small rear wheel. Some of the three-wheeled tricycles look like miniature carriages with two larger wheels in back with a seating platform between. Other tricycles are reminiscent of today’s though have a far different wheel configuration.

** A Milwaukee newspaper.

Sources: Ahnapee Record; An-An-api-Ssbe: Where is the River?, c. 2001; Evening Wisconsin; Sturgeon Bay Democrat; Sturgeon Bay Independent.